fran6 v. Winters
Replay Applet: ZGo
This was my first game in the 2006 Sendol Cup on KGS. We each had 45 minutes main time, so in internet terms, there was plenty of time to think. It was a fine game for both sides, and ended in a reasonable score (B+5.5), so seemed appropriate as the first game to comment on here.
Move 5: This is the Chinese fuseki, which I played pretty much constantly as B on my way to 4k and 3k. The continuation is fairly standard, though 8 was a bit timid - it's usually at K16.
Move 10: A bit desperate - W could have easily played C11, for instance. The response at 11 was, of course, not the best choice. Bumping at R4 would have been better - denying W the corner and forcing an escape into the center. N4 was a safe, perhaps spineless choice.
Move 12: Seems a bit early for W to create a second weak group . This is certainly a weak spot in B's formation, but as you can see from the follow-up. B develops surrounding strength that more than makes up for the trivial loss.
Move 13: Shouldn't work - touching a weak stone is often a mistake, and this is definitely a case in which it is. Better is the base-denying block at R14.
Move 21: Both W groups seem primed for life, so this move saves the important R9 stone while keeping the W groups separated.
Move 27: Just looking for some top side territory. C17 is a feint. I was not satisfied with the result.
Move 43: This begins the sequence that took most of my thought in this game, during which my goal was to harrass the white corner group between my C7 and G3 stones. The B formation at the bottom is an excellent pseudo-wall.
Move 47: This attachment was a mistake, I think. W's attempt to cut this left-side group apart was the most memorable part of the game for me. At every given point, B has the option of sacrificing a few stones in order to save the rest, and needs to read the situation out to see whether it is necessary.
Move 58: W tries to negate B's bottom-side support in preparation for attacking the F7 group.
Move 62: W's D4 group and bottom stones don't look strong enough to begin this fight. As a result, B's following moves attack that weak group without too much worry for the F7 group. It is a calculated risk, though, since the moves up to 70 strengthens the W group while giving B the corner.
Move 75: It's a competition between B's F7 group and W's F5 group now.
Move 78: Big mistake. The F5 group is behind enemy lines and, unless W is sure that two eyes are forthcoming, it needs to get out.
Move 85: K5 would make a secure seal, but also hurt the F7 group in the ensuing fight. B wants to keep W between two solid groups. This choice results in the ko fight starting at move 89.
Move 94: W sacrifices a very big corner to win the ko. It's probably a good choice - the outside group is worth at least 26 points, while the territory given up is at most 16.
Move 97: B has a weak group at E17. That should probably be the priority, but this is a good two-purpose move nonetheless. It connects the weak Q9 group with the strong bottom, and keeps W's corner group separate from its center.
Move 125: Connecting at H10 would have allowed W to keep harassing the H15 group.
Move 149: The monkey jump officially begins the endgame, during which there were no outlandish mistakes.
Ultimately, move 78, allowing B to squeeze the W F5 group between two stronger groups, determined the flow of the rest of the game. W's major chance for a turnaround was the pursuit of the E17, which was saved by none other than the F7 group that benefitted from the first fight.